Friends of the Earth Scotland has welcomed the prospect of The UK Government allowing onshore wind farms to compete for subsidy under the Contracts for Difference scheme.

The UK Government has previously stopped the cheapest form of energy generation being able to bid for this support.

Dr Richard Dixon, Friends of the Earth Scotland Director  said:

“This looks like great news for renewables in Scotland and will help us get to 100% of our electricity coming from a range of renewable energy technologies.  We need to see the details but there are lots of large and small windfarm schemes that have been stalled for years because the UK Government cut support for onshore wind.

“Rapidly boosting renewables is essential in the fight against climate change.  We need clean power to heat our homes and run transport systems so that we can phase out the use of fossil fuels completely.”

According to Energy Voice the UK Government is set to change its policy on onshore wind.

Claire Mack,  Scottish Renewables chief executive, said:

“This announcement is recognition that, as Scottish Renewables and others have said for many years, onshore wind and solar PV provide the cheapest way to tackle climate change while delivering economic benefits across the UK.

“Onshore wind employs 5,800 people in Scotland in highly-skilled, green jobs of the future. As we seek to meet our net-zero targets in the most cost effective way this technology has a key role to play.”